NEW BOOKS AND PERIODICALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS AND PERIODICA LS.

The First Standard Rkader, written to meet the requirements of the New Zealand Educational Code, being the first of the " Southern Cross" series of readers. Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs. — The reason for issuing such a series is explained in tho preface to this, the first number, wlych states that " the Southern Cross Readers are designed to provide, for the public schoools of Xew Zealand, reading lessons that will stand in more direct relation to life and its surroundings in our own land than the lessons of foreign ' readers' can do." We can hardly say that this design is successfully carried out, for tho book is to a very large extent occupied with Old World matter about tigers, bears, foxes, wolves, ice, and snow, while the chief references to Xew Zealand seem to be statements that such things as bears and tigers are not found in our favoured land. Some of the stories and pictures, too, have an old school-book smack about them. We have, for instance, "The Arab and his Horse," with the usual impossible Arab, in an impossible attitude in the mouth of a horse, galloping in an impossible way. As a set-off to all this Old World matter, we have a picture of two colonial youths shearing sheep and a children's dialogue on tho subject "of sheep. Nothing is given about the Maoris, or about our native birds—the moa, kiwi, parrots, pigeons; our lizards, our fish— schnapper, mullet, sharks ; our trees and forests, kauri gum, fro/en meat, wool, and a thousand other matters of moment to the colonially born, which could have been treated in a light and monosyllabic style suitable for children. It is only fair that a book should fulti! its professions, and this the Southern Cross Render No. I. distinctly does not do. One good point about the book consists in illustrations of cats' eyes and birds' claws. These Illustrations are very cjood, and cannot fail both to instruct and interest, and, at the same time, cultivate the observing power of children. More such pictures would have occupied to better purpose the space now filled by some rather silly dialogues. Children are not idiots—at least, colonial children are not—and their understandings should not be insulted by twaddle about sheep talking to little girls. In spite of these defects, the book is a most creditable piece of work to have been executed in a New Zealand town. The paper is white and thick, the printing black and beautifully clear, the woodcuts are of unusual excellence, and the binding is neat and workmanlike. The lesson* seem, on the whole, well suited for the capacities of their readers, and their arrangement is good. Difficult words are given in lints at the beginning of each lesson, and at the end specimens of writing are given for practice. These make rather a feature in the book, as the lettering in white on a black ground, after the manner of slates and blackboards. Typographically, the book deserves the most unstinted praise, and, from a literary point of view, it is as good an most of its class, although that is not saying much. Republican Institutions of the United Status. By Dugald J. Bannatyne, Scotch solicitor, New York (William Blackwood and Sons). —This is a book designed to enlighten British ignorance about United States institutions. It is a compact, handy volume, containing (i(X) pages of matter, printed in small but legible type. In the preface the author quotes the saying that no immigrant to the United States who possesses capital will succeed till he has lost it all and started afresh. Ho confirms the truth of this saying by his own observation, and attributes it in part to the immigrant's ignorance of the institutions and laws of his adopted country, and to his want of experience and knowledge of the people. He says:— "l would like to assist my countrymen (English, Irish, and Scotch) in an effort to overcome this deadweight of ignorance, and now spread before them a banquet of republican institutions in the United States." In his preface to " Triumphant Democracy," Andrew Carnegie says he has coated his medicine of fact with the sugar of fancy. It would be well for readers to take one of Mr. Carnegie's sugarcoated pills before .sitting down \,o the solid banquet provided by Mr. Bannatyne, There is, however, nothing unwholesome about the banquet. Some of the joints may be a bit tough and dry, but the major part of the book will prove very nourishing intellectual food ; and, when the reader has digested the mass of concentrated information here provided, he will have gained an insight into American affairs deeper, perhaps, than that fxjsseesed by the majority of those born under the stars and stripes. Very interesting information is given in the introductory chapter about the danger to the Republic from the more rapid increase of the black population than the white; the systems of espionage, detectives, &c, and their abuses; political influences and machinery, election expenses, American weaknesses, corruption, dirt-throwing, marriage, divorce, and kindred matters. The remainder of the first part of the book is occupied with the texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and various other important documents, together with concise descriptions of the functions and constitution of the various executive departments, the judiciary of the United States, the army, navy, banks,

I currency, railroads, telegraphs, and many i other subsidiary matters. The second ' part of the book is taken up with an exj position of the Constitution of the State of New York, which is selected "as the one j best suited to illustrate State Government." j The book will be found of great use a3 a I volume of reference, especially by those I connected with the newspaper press. Diokkns' Dictionary of the Thames fob 1887 (Macmillan and Co.) is a companion volume to the same author's " Dic.'tionary of London."—Like its predecessor, I the" Dictionary of the Thames"is illustrated ' with maps, and it apparently embraces every conceivable topic connected with this venerable river. The objects of the book are to give practical information to all directly interested in the river, to serve as a guide-book to strangers, and as a book of reference for residents and those connected I with the port of London and its trade, j and seem to be amply fulfilled, and ail for j the modest sum of Is. Wβ have also received a new edition of "Dickens' Dictionary of London for 1887" (9th year), which embodies many improvements on former editions. " Mr. Weller's j knowledge of London was extonsive and ' peculiar, so say the "Pickwick Papers;" and we can say the same of this dictionary. ' It is invaluable to those visiting London, particulary on account of the common sense arrangement of the map of the city. From Judy Office, London, comos " My Boy Jack," and other tales, by Ernest Warren, author of " Four Flirts," &c. The book is well illustrated by F, A. Fraser, Hal Ludlow, and 11. Holland, and the stories are pleasant light reading for i idle half hours.

From John Birch and Co., engineers and merchants, Liverpool, ha.s come to hand an illustrated catalogue of railroads and rolling stock, "giving the cost of plant and material for portable light, and main lines, to which is added a chapter on river steamers and light craft, also dredging plant." It is a most complete guide to every conceivablo description of railway plant end material, giving prices, weights, and the fullest information and instructions to those sending orders to the firm. The book is something more than a mere trade catalogue, as it contains a great store of valuable information not otherwise available, and so arranged as to enable even those ignorant of the subjects treated to get an approximate idea of the cost of any plant described—such, for instance, as the wire rope system of transport. The catalogue is most copiously illustrated with good wood engravings, which add greatly to its value. The price is one guinea, which is really little more than a nominal sum, when the contents of the work are considered.